Pink’s “Try” Video: Watch The Daring Dance Clip

When she was teasing the video for her new single “Try,” Pinkexplained that it was her favorite video ever to shoot, and now we know why. The clip, which premiered this morning on Vevo, is elegant, complicated and audacious — like Pink at her best.

Directed by Floria Sigismondi and choreographed by The Golden Boyz, “Try” depicts the conflict and attraction between Pink and her man (portrayed in the video by a ridiculously muscular shirtless guy — one of those dudes who’s about 90% torso), as expressed through an interpretive dance that’s variously erotic and violent. As the passion between the couple ramps up in intensity, they wind up soaring through the desert, covered in rainbow paint. (It sounds strange, but it works marvelously.) Although Pink’s videos are often driven by self-consciousness and irony, she plays it totally straight in this one, giving an emotive performance that communicates volumes, all while executing impressively acrobatic dance moves.

“Try” comes on the (Lucite) heels of Christina Aguilera‘s “Your Body” video, which also played with ideas of sexualized violence, but whereas “Your Body” went for laughs, Pink’s effort is genuinely stirring. It also does a fine job of differentiating the song, which feels pedestrian compared to Pink’s more affecting downtempo tracks (see: “Please Don’t Leave Me,”“Who Knew”).

We’re not alone in our affection for the video. Earlier today, Pink tweeted:

My mom,after seeing the new video… “Wow, honey. I’m speechless. And uncomfortable. No one can ever say you play it safe.” Thanks, mama:)